This multi-purpose home in Greenwich was created by Robert Young Architecture for a pair of artists. At 10,000 sq. ft. this is certainly no micro home – in fact, the house contains two large multipurpose galleries with 16-foot ceilings and ancillary rooms off to the sides work as extra bedrooms, storage space, offices and art studios. Downstairs on the ground floor, the couple’s main living space boasts a large, open floorplan living and dining area with an attached chef’s commercial-grade kitchen. A mid-size elevator provides access between the floors and aids with the installation and removal of artwork.

The three-story home/gallery is a concrete-block structure with carefully placed windows to frame views of the surrounding woodlands. A metal mesh screen was installed around much of the exterior of the building and then white wisteria vines were planted. Over time, the wisteria has grown up and through the screen and is on its way to covering the entire facade. The greenery overlaps windows and doors and serves as an extra barrier between the home and the outdoors. In the summer, the living facade shades the home and helps keep it cool and has an opposite effect in the winter. Robert Young Architecture has completed a number of other projects and homes in the New York area and has a strong focus on sustainability and energy efficient design.